The beaches in Bali are closed down still, leading to many complaints and discontent from the local and expat population.
Originally, the beach closures were ordered as part of the extended declaration of emergency to stop the spread of COVID-19 by encouraging people to stay home, practice physical distancing, and avoid social gatherings. On the advice of President Jokowi and the Ministry of Health, the Government of Indonesia enacted the Declaration of Emergency on 31 March 2020.
Beaches fall under outdoor recreational amenities. The Declaration of Emergency has been extended several times since. The latest extension is in place until further announced.
This is not about avoiding the spread of the virus how they make us believe...
With beached closed officially, the government is NOT obliged to conduct search & rescue operations, which requires large group formations to work on close proximity and revive a victim that potentially could be a carrier, thus exposing its SAR personnel to the risk of infection
Beach program suspensions will be in place well into July, and in certain circumstances they will be in place through the “high season”. Still, access to the beach and water is restricted with barriers or signs to most of the beaches in Bali. Check your local Banjar for specific location details at your beach to avoid disappointment. You should expect that parking lots will be closed or partially closed.
What does close mean anyway? I see people at the beach...
The province defines a beach closure as follows : to cause restriction/elimination of public access to a beach or specific beach areas where a significant risk to health and safety has been identified. The provincial government will direct the Banjar to the beach to post signage and/or erect barriers/barricades at appropriate locations to reduce the risk of public exposure to a health hazard.
A beach closure can mean the parking lots are closed. Washrooms, change rooms, and other beach facilities are closed. And most notably, municipal and provincial beach programs, including recreational water quality monitoring and lifeguarding programs, are currently suspended. The suspension of beach monitoring, supervision, and maintenance programs will be in place until beaches are officially re-opened for 2020.. Opening dates won’t be simultaneous across the province. Rather, they will be localized, based on the circumstances in each regions. However, Bali’s beaches are closed for the moment, meaning the beaches are not supervised or maintained, and the washrooms and other facilities are closed.
Why avoiding to swim isn't the worst idea
If you are considering swimming and other recreational water activities, remember that there are no lifeguards on duty at this time. You, your family, and friends will not have assistance on site if you get into trouble in the water. If you still want to break this rule, make sure to choose your activity based on your skill level, never swim alone. When in doubt stay out of the water. You will need to beg for emergency services in the case of emergency.
The beach closures, along with the closure of outdoor recreational amenities were ordered as part of the extended declaration of emergency to stop the spread of COVID-19 by encouraging people to stay home, practice physical distancing, and avoid social gatherings.
You can absolutely contract COVID-19 if you head to the beach, river, or lake. At the beach, if you are exposed to the respiratory secretions (coughing and sneezing) of an infected person, you can get sick. Beaches, like any crowded public place, put you at risk of contracting the virus. If you are infected and head to the beach, you will further spread the virus.
The virus is transmitted primarily person to person, within about 6 feet (2 meters) through respiratory droplets produced when someone sick coughs or sneezes. In other words, at the beach, you’re most at risk from contracting the virus from being too close to other people.
Swimming is not where the risk lies
To date, scientific evidence and medical research points to there being an extremely low risk of contracting Covid-19 by swimming or recreating in fresh or marine bodies of water.
“There is no evidence showing anyone has gotten COVID-19 through drinking water, recreational water, or wastewater. The risk of COVID-19 transmission through water is expected to be low.” – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Stay safe! Don’t go swimming unless you’re a certified swimmer and used to any weather condition.
How can I help stop the spread of COVID-19?
Follow all the guidelines set out by your local government, as well as the government’s order. Always practice social distancing, use a mask, whenever you head outside to exercise.
Stay patient, follow the rules and the restrictions should be lifted soon enough! Find here our Top 5 Day Trip in Seminyak , with nice beaches to be discovered once they reopen to the public. All from walking distance from our Private Pool Villas, now discounted, , located in the heart of the most vibrant area of Bali! Enjoy shopping, dancing, fine dining…
